Sneezing. Coughing. Achiness and fever. A cold is certainly no fun to fall victim to. Unfortunately, there is no cure for the common cold; however, there are a few natural ways to tackle the aforementioned symptoms. When taken at the onset of the illness, many of these natural remedies will work to head a cold off at the pass. Others will make the cold bearable or shorten its duration.
1. Long touted for its homeopathic properties, echinacea is just now getting its due from the medical community. Today, even mainstream physicians acknowledge that echinacea can reduce the term of viral gestation in the body. In some cases, if taken prior to severe symptoms, it may stop a cold in its tracks. An herb that was used for centuries by Native Americans, the perennial plant is extremely safe. Most people drink it in a tea while others take it in a pill form. Either method appears to work just fine.
2. Aiding in digestion and doubling as an expectorant, the Canadian Perennial called Golden Seal can also prevent the infection that accompanies colds. Most people who use the natural antibiotic take it in a supplement form but Goldenseal can come as a tea or a gargle for sore mouths and throats too. A cream version of Goldenseal is also available, but this is generally used topically for skin injuries.
3. Ginger has been used to improve sexual performance and enhance stamina, but those who practice holistic medicine say that freshly ground ginger can also ward off a cold or even the flu virus. The traditional Chinese medicine should be ingested as a tea several times a day (a minimum of three). Although you can get supplements with ginger in it, fresh ginger is always best. To prepare it, you can peel and boil pieces of ginger for roughly fifteen minutes then strain into a tea. Sweeten to taste, and if so inclined, you can eat the pieces that are left over.
4. Vitamin C is a time honored natural remedy for many disorders. Found in orange juice and herbal supplements, doctors and homeopathic practitioners alike have touted the healing properties of L ascorbate for decades. This all around medicinal wonder can help keep your immunity up and even stave off the signs of aging by reducing free radicals. Most people advise taking 2000 mg Vitamin C supplements at the first signs of a cold, to reduce the chances of the cold worsening.
5. Two items that make excellent pizza toppings are also ingredients for a terrific antiviral home remedy – garlic and onions. Both of these bulbs have immunity boosting properties and although they may not smell very good, they certainly help lower the life expectancy of a virus. 8 12 cloves of garlic should be boiled in 2 cups of water for 10 minutes to create a tea that will quickly alleviate cold symptoms. Honey and lemon can be added to the brew to make it palatable. Onions can be ingested the same way. Adding coconut oil will add to the immunity properties.
Before utilizing any method of healing, herbal or otherwise, you should be checked out by a doctor to rule out any other causes for your symptoms. If you are diagnosed with a cold or mild virus any of the above remedies will certainly be helpful to you. Also be sure to look out for signs of an allergic reaction as this can signal problems with your chosen therapy.
Play it safe and natural remedies can give you a true alternative to the harsh chemical based pharmaceuticals available on the market today.
Author Resource:-
Natural Health blog provides information on natural remedies, natural health and alternative medicine. http://www.natural-health-advice.com
![[Valid RSS feed]](http://www.coldcoldlaw.com/images/icon_Rss.png "XML Feed For RSS"){kind=icon}
Category Rss Feed
Print This Article
Add To Favorites
